Page:The Siege of London - Posteritas - 1885.djvu/29

Rh task before them was truly Herculean, and had they shrunk they might well have been pardoned. But they did not shrink, and the impartial historian would be wanting in justice and common honesty if he failed to accord them the highest mead of praise.

In such a terrible state was Ireland at this time, and so alarming were the outrages that were committed, that the Government determined to renew the Crimes Act, which, in a conciliatory spirit, they had declined to renew when they came into office. The determination gave rise to one of the stormiest and most remarkable debates ever known in the House of Commons. The ultra-Radicals, led by Mr. Chamberlain, joined issues with the Separatists, and every endeavour was made to thwart the Government. But it is to the credit of the House of Commons of that day that the Act once more became law, with certain clauses of a more stringent character added.

But now Egypt was becoming a source of terrible anxiety. The Liberal Government's misrule in that unhappy country had produced the direst effects. Anarchy reigned in the Soudan, and hordes of fanatical Arabs hung upon the fringe of Egypt, and threatened to overrun the country, so that it was necessary to keep a strong British garrison both at Cairo and Alexandria. But the threatening Arabs were not the only danger. It was evident that England was drifting into war with France. There was a strong party in France who insisted upon a joint control in Egypt and the restoration of the Sinking Fund. But Egypt was in a state of absolute bankruptcy, and £5,ooo,ooo of English gold had already gone in an attempt to raise the financial position of the county. Notwithstanding this, the English Government was not only disposed to make another advance, but to comply with the French demands as to the control. The errors of the previous Liberal Administration had so ruined the country, that some such step as that proposed seemed absolutely necessary. But it was clear that the Opposition were against the proposal, which was not likely to be carried into effect unless the co-operation of the Irish party could be secured. For the moment, however, the eyes of the Government were turned from Egypt to India. For some time reports had continued to reach